NEW YORK, March 28, 2008 – Mark Sirower, author of business best-seller and critically acclaimed book, "The Synergy Trap: How Companies Lose the Acquisition Game," has joined Deloitte Consulting LLP as a principal in the Merger & Acquisitions (M&A) Strategy service line.

“Mark brings to Deloitte extensive work on merger and acquisition strategy and valuation issues, and he will continue to focus on helping clients in their efforts to transform from merely reacting to growth opportunities to actively seeking new ways to grow shareholder value,” said Punit Renjen, National Managing Director, Strategy & Operations, Deloitte Consulting LLP.  “Mark’s arrival demonstrates Deloitte’s ongoing commitment to help our clients in strategy and operations. In his current role, Sirower can help industrial goods, consumer goods, financial services, and pharmaceutical companies as they rethink and look to grow their businesses profitably through M&A.”

Sirower recently served as a managing director with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he founded the Transaction Services Strategy Group based in New York City. Prior to PwC, he was a global leader of the M&A practice of The Boston Consulting Group.

The book, now in its 11th printing and translated into six languages since 1997, explains what constitutes informed M&A decisions and was recently featured on CNN’s “Top 25 Business Stories of the Past 25 Years.”

Sirower has been a featured speaker on major business programs such as the Fortune 500 Forum for CEOs and CFOs, Forbes CFO Forum, and the Milken Institute Global Economic Forum. Sirower has also spoke to the Federal Trade Commission on merger policy. In addition, he is a frequent commentator for international news programs.

Sirower holds a PhD in Competitive Strategy (Finance specialization) from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a MBA in Finance and Statistics from Indiana University. Sirower was a professor at Columbia University and currently retains a Visiting Professor appointment at New York University’s Stern School of Business, where he teaches M&A in the Executive MBA Program.  He also taught at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

To arrange an interview with Sirower on related issues, please contact John La Place at +1 212-492-4267, or jlaplace@deloitte.com, or Suzanne Beckmann at +1 212-885-0608, or suzanne.beckmann@hillandknowlton.com.

About Deloitte 
As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte Consulting LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP.  Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.